Reflections of the Crusades in Medieval German Literature (P02475)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P02475

This course introduces students to a selection of texts written between ca. 1160 and 1230 in which encounters between Christian Europe and the Muslim world are portrayed and explored. Although some of the major epic texts in this category draw on the chanson de geste tradition in which conflicts between the Carolingian Empire and Muslim Spain were represented they all reflect the more recent history of the crusades in the late 11th to early 13th centuries. The course aims to explore how ‘Holy War’ rhetoric, actual experience of the wars in the Holy Land and also theological and philosophical debates about just war and the miles dei movement as well as about the nature of God and the differences between Christianity and other religions find expression in the changing attitudes about war against non-Christians as encountered in the texts chosen. Accordingly, the primary material for the course will also include a number of historical and religious sources.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Good knowledge of modern German. Some previous knowledge of the history of the crusades would be useful but can also be gained during the course.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

European Languages and Cultures - German, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course the students will have developed a reading ability in Middle High German. They will be able to show an understanding of a variety of Medieval German literary texts and to relate these to the political and religious history and to the philosophical debates of the period.
They will be able to show an understanding of critical and theoretical approaches to the literary texts and the ability to develop personal critical judgements on both the primary material and a broad range of secondary material.